Phuket Travel and Destination Guide

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Phang Nga Bay

Phang Nga Bay National park is the highlight of the Phang Nga province, and one of the stand out destinations in South East Asia. With signature limestone cliffs and crystal blue sea, Phang Nga Bay is Thailand as you dreamed it would be.

The popular highlights of Phang Nga Bay are the movie famous James Bond Island and Koh Pannyi, accessible through the bus boat trips from north eastern Phuket or, more ideally, a slow pace, soak in the beauty day trip from the same port with time for kayaking, swimming and total leisure. If you’re not planning to stay in Phang Nga province accommodation, ethailandvillas recommends a luxury villa in northern Phuket, and repeated day trips to Phang Nga Bay to appreciate the details, beauty and secrets of the area.

James Bond Island

Koh Ping Gan was the setting for the classic James Bond movie, “The Man with the Golden Gun,” and so inevitably has become known as James Bond Island and has attracted visitors form around the world. What was used as an impenetrable evil villain’s hide-away base in the movie is actually a collection of limestone peaks, and the recognizable rocky pinnacle, with well travelled channels in between. Your day trip will also take in lunch at Koh Pannyi…

Koh Pannyi

This is a rare charm – like something out of a Pirate movie - a village built on stills with a limestone rock as a background. It’s also known as Sea Gypsy Island and is where most of the tourists from James Bond Island come to have lunch. After that, it quietens down and becomes a quiet fishing community.

Explore Phang Nga Bay

In addition to the two main tourist attractions mentioned above, Phang Nga Bay has a number of smaller islands with limestone caves, or “hongs,” as you’ll hear them referred to, through which you’ll be able to explore on an inflatable canoe provided by your tour guide (or you can buy one form coastal shops in Phuket if you’re exploring alone). Koh Hong is the most popular island for cave exploration.  Khao Khien is worth passing by to take photos of the rock face paintings of boats and animals, and Koh Maak is actually inhabited - by Thai fishermen - but not geared to tourists. Your curiosity may tempt you to take a peak, though.

Phang Nga Bay is protected from the north east and south west monsoon onslaught, and the numerous limestone islands provide plenty of spots to moor a vessel, making a the whole are a perfect place for boating. 

Getting to Phang Nga Bay

Phang Nga Bay is easy from both Phuket and Phang Nga province mainland, particularly the Ka Sohm pier at Takua Thung which is south of Phang Nga town. You can carter a yacht for independent trips or join a day tour. Phang Nga Bay accommodation comprises luxury villa rentals on the mainland on Phuket’s quieter northeastern shore.